Endocrine 5 Flashcards
How much calcium in adult human?
approx 1 kg
Form of Ca2+ in body
99% in crystalline form within the skeleton and teeth.
0.9% intracellularly within the soft tissues.
<0.1% present in the extracellular fluid (ECF)
Where is ECF Ca2+ present (bound? etc)?
- 1 half - either bound to plasma proteins or complexed with PO43-, not available for cellular reactions
- Other half can readily pass to from plasma into ICF and interact with the cells.
What of ECF Ca2+ is biologically active and subject to regulation?
Only free ECF Ca2+
How much does free ECF Ca2+ constitutes in the body.
Less than one thousandth of the total calcium
Physiological role of Calcium x 13
- Muscle contraction
- Structural integrity of bones and teeth
- Blood clotting
- Enzyme regulation
- Membrane stability
- DNA/RNA synthesis
- Neurotransmitter release
- Secretion
- Intracellular signaling
- Proliferation
- Fertilization
- Cell motility
- Maintenance of tight junctions
Roles of Free ECF Ca2+
- To prevent aberrant neuromuscular excitability
- Excitation-contraction coupling
- Stimulus – secretion coupling
- Excitation – secretion coupling
- Maintenance of tight junctions
- Clotting of Blood
Role of Free ECF Ca2+ in preventing aberrant neuromuscular excitability
A fall in free Ca2+ causes overexcitability of nerves and muscles; A rise in free Ca2+ depresses neuromuscular excitability.
Role of Free ECF Ca2+ in excitation-contraction coupling
Excitation-contraction coupling in cardiac and smooth muscle – resulting from increased Ca2+ permeability in response to an action potential.
Role of Free ECF Ca2+ in stimulus – secretion coupling
Entry of Ca2+ into secretory cells, triggers the release of secretory products by exocytosis
- Important for release of Neurotransmitters by nerve cells and for peptide and catecholamine hormone secretion by endocrine cells.
Entry of Ca2+ into secretory cells is caused by…..
Increased permeabilty to Ca2+ in response to appropriate stimulation
Role of free ECF Ca2+ in excitation – secretion coupling
In Pancreatic b cells, Ca2+ entry leads to insulin secretion.
Role of free ECF Ca2+ in maintenance of tight junctions between cells
Ca2+ forms some of the intracellular cement that holds particular tight junctions together.
Role of free ECF Ca2+ in clotting of blood
Ca2+ acts as a co-factor in several steps of the cascade that lead to clot formation.
Function of skeleton (involving calcium)
Storage depot for Ca2+ and PO43-, which can be exchanged with the plasma to maintain plasma concentrations of these electrolytes.
3 types of bone cell
- Osteoblasts
- Osteocytes
- Osteoclasts
Function of osteoblasts
Secrete extracellular organic matrix within which the Ca3(PO4)2 crystals precipitate.
Function of osteocytes
Retired osteoblasts imprisoned within the bony wall they have deposited around them.
Function of osteoclasts
Reabsorb bone in their vicinity; break down the organic matrix.
Where do osteoblasts and osteoclasts trace their origins to?
Bone marrow
What are osteoblasts derived from?
Stromal cells
What are stromal cells?
Type of connective tissue in the bone marrow.
Where are osteoclasts derived from?
Differentiate from macrophages, tissue bound derivatives of monocytes
What do osteoblasts and their immediate
precursors produce in unique communication system?
2 chemical signals that govern osteoclast development and activity in opposite ways – they are RANK ligand and Osteoprotegerin.
Role of osteoblasts in governing osteoclast development and activity diagram
What does mechanical stress favour?
Bone deposition
Child – bone builders keep ahead of the bone destroyers - what is this influenced by?
IGF1 and GH
IGF1
Insulin-like growth factor 1
What do mechanical factors do?
Adjust the strength of bone in response to demands placed on it.
Bone mass with age
- Decreases
- Peaks at 30, then declines after age 40. By 50-60 years bone resorption often exceeds bone formation.
The greater the physical stress….
the greater the rate of bone deposition.
Osteopososis bone changes
Reduced deposition of the bones organic matrix – reduced osteoblast activity and/or increased osteoclast activity.
Osteoporosis risk age
Occurs in greatest frequency in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.
Skeleton of elderly vs peak women
Skeletons of elderly women are only about 50-80% as their peak at age 35.
Skeleton of elderly vs peak men
Skeletons of elderly men remain at 80-90% of their peak.
Normal bone or osteoporotic bone?
Normal
Normal bone or osteoporotic bone?
Osteoporotic - note reduced density of osteoporotic trabecular bone compared to normal trabecular bone.
Which hormones alter Ca2+ levels?
– Calcitonin (Thyroid gland)
– Parathyroid hormone (PTH) (Parathyroid gland)
– Vitamin D (cholecalciferol)
– (also Growth hormone regulates Ca2+ levels)